U.S. patent application number 11/232731 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-22 for divided storage system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Advantus Corp.. Invention is credited to Scott D. Smith.
Application Number | 20070062833 11/232731 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37882973 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070062833 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Smith; Scott D. |
March 22, 2007 |
Divided storage system
Abstract
A divided storage system is formed of a collapsible container
and a collapsible divided file assembly. The container includes a
planar blank having a centrally-located bottom panel with four side
portions, four side panels each foldably attached to a respective
one side portion and movable to a position perpendicular to the
bottom panel fasteners are carried by each side panel for attaching
the side panels together to define an interior space. The file
assembly includes files each locatable adjacent to the side panel
and removably attachable thereto. The file assembly includes a
plurality of file dividers located between the first and second
files and are connected via accordion pleats. The first and second
files include outwardly extending tabs with passageways
therethrough and are attached to the container by being sandwiched
between the respective end and side panel at each of the four
corners of the assembled container.
Inventors: |
Smith; Scott D.; (Hernando,
MS) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ARTHUR G. YEAGER, P.A.
245-1 EAST ADAMS STREET
JACKSONVILLE
FL
32202-3336
US
|
Assignee: |
Advantus Corp.
|
Family ID: |
37882973 |
Appl. No.: |
11/232731 |
Filed: |
September 22, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/425 ;
206/735 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B42F 7/14 20130101; B42F
7/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/425 ;
206/735 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/00 20060101
B65D085/00 |
Claims
1. A divided storage system comprising a collapsible container and
a collapsible divided file assembly, said container including a
planar blank having a centrally-located bottom panel with four side
portions, four side panels each foldably attached to a respective
one said side portion and movable to a position perpendicular to
said bottom panel, fastener means carried by each said side panel
for attaching said side panels together to define an interior
space, said file assembly including a first and second file each
locatable adjacent to said side panel and removably attachable
thereto.
2. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said file assembly
includes a plurality of file dividers located between said first
and second files.
3. The system as defined in claim 2 further including a plurality
of accordion pleats for attaching one said file divider to an
adjacent said file divider.
4. The system as defined in claim 2 wherein said file assembly
includes a first and second file accordion pleats for attaching
respective first and second files to respective said adjacent one
side panel.
5. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second
files include side panel members for attaching said first and
second files to respective said adjacent side panels.
6. The system as defined in claim 4 wherein each said first and
second file accordion pleats include a side panel member for
attaching said first and second files to respective said adjacent
side panels.
7. A divided storage system comprising a collapsible container and
a collapsible divided file assembly, said container including a
planar blank having a central bottom panel having a pair of spaced
substantially parallel first side edge portions and a pair of
spaced substantially parallel second side edge portions, each said
first edge portion being substantially perpendicular to said second
edge portions, a pair of end panels each having an outside edge
portion and an inside edge portion adjacent one respective said
first edge portion of said bottom panel, a pair of side panels each
having an outside edge portion and an inside edge portion closely
adjacent a respective said second side edge portion of said bottom
panel and being foldably connected to said bottom panel, each said
end panel having substantially parallel side edge portions, a pair
of elongate tabs, each tab being foldably connected closely
adjacent a respective said side edge portion of respective said end
panel, at least one first fastener carried by each said tab, at
least one second fastener carried on each said end panel adjacent
said outside edge portion of said end panel, said fasteners
cooperating to connect said at least one first fastener to said at
least one second fastener to attach said tabs to respective said
end panel to define an interior space of said container, said
divider file assembly being located in said interior space and
attachable to said container.
8. The system as defined in claim 7 wherein said divider file
assembly includes a plurality of vertically disposable files,
including a first file locatable closely adjacent one said end
panel having spaced elongate edge portions, each said edge portion
of said first file including at least one passageway therethrough
and aligned with one respective said at least one first and second
fasteners, each said edge portion of said first file being
sandwiched between respective said tab and respective said end
panel for securing said divider file assembly to said container
when said respective fasteners are secured together.
9. The system as defined in claim 8 wherein said divider file
assembly further includes a second file locatable closely adjacent
another said end panel having spaced elongate edge portions, each
said edge portion of said second file including at least one
passageway therethrough and aligned with another respective pair of
said at least one first and second fasteners, each said edge
portion of said second file being sandwiched between another
respective said tab and another respective said end panel for
securing said divider file assembly to said container when said
another respective fasteners are secured together.
10. The system as defined in claim 8 wherein each said file
includes a first and second side edge portion and a pair of first
vertically elongated panels each attached to respective said first
and second side edge portion of said file, and a pair of second
vertically elongated panels each attached between one said first
panel of one said file and another said first panel of another
adjacent said file.
11. The system as defined in claim 8 wherein said assembly includes
a pair of spaced accordion members, said file dividers mounted
between said accordion members.
12. The system as defined in claim 8 wherein said divider file
assembly is collapsible to locate each file substantially flat
against an adjacent file.
13. The system as defined in claim 12 further including a top cover
for covering said container.
14. The system as defined in claim 13 wherein said cover includes a
top panel having four sides and a wall subtending from each side
for defining an interior space sized to house said divider file
therein assembly when said assembly is collapsed.
15. A divided storage system comprising a collapsible container and
a collapsible divided file assembly, said container including a
planar blank having a centrally-located bottom panel with four side
portions, front and rear panels and two side panels each foldably
attached to a respective one said side portion of said bottom panel
and movable to a position perpendicular to said bottom panel,
fastener means carried by each said panel for attaching said
adjacent side panels together to define an interior space, said
file assembly including planar front and rear files having opposite
edge portions locatable adjacent to respective said front and rear
panel, respective said edge portions being removably attachable
thereto.
16. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said file assembly
includes a plurality of file dividers located between said front
and rear files.
17. The system as defined in claim 16 further including a plurality
of accordion pleats for attaching one said file divider to an
adjacent said file divider and to attach said front and rear files
to adjacent said file dividers.
18. The system as defined in claim 16 wherein said file assembly
includes a first and second pair of file accordion pleats for
attaching respective said edge portions of said front and rear
files to respective said side panels.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] Not Applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable.
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX
[0003] Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] 1. Field of the Invention
[0005] The present invention pertains to collapsible file systems
and particularly to collapsible containers that include file
dividers.
[0006] 2. Related Art
[0007] A wide variety of containers and file dividers are known to
the prior art. What is desired is a collapsible container and
collapsible file divider assembly that can be folded to provide a
substantially flat package for shipment and storage.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In one aspect of the present invention there is provided a
divided storage system comprising a collapsible container and a
collapsible divided file assembly, the container including a planar
blank having a centrally-located bottom panel with four side
portions, four side panels each foldably attached to a respective
one side portion and movable to a position perpendicular to the
bottom panel, fastener means carried by each side panel for
attaching side panels together to define an interior space, the
file assembly including a first and second file each locatable
adjacent to the side panel and removably attachable thereto. The
file assembly includes a plurality of file dividers located between
the first and second files. A plurality of accordion pleats is used
for attaching one file divider to an adjacent file divider. The
file assembly includes a first and second file accordion pleats for
attaching respective first and second files to respective adjacent
one side panel. The first and second files include side panel
members for attaching them to respective adjacent side panels.
Alternatively, each first and second file accordion pleats each
include a side panel member for attaching first and second files to
respective adjacent side panels.
[0009] In another aspect of the present invention, there is a
divided storage system comprising a collapsible container and a
collapsible divided file assembly, the container including a planar
blank having a central bottom panel having a pair of spaced
substantially parallel first side edge portions and a pair of
spaced substantially parallel second side edge portions, each first
edge portion being substantially perpendicular to the second edge
portions, a pair of end panels each having an outside edge portion
and an inside edge portion adjacent one respective first edge
portion of the bottom panel. A pair of side panels each have an
outside edge portion and an inside edge portion closely adjacent a
respective second side edge portion of the bottom panel and being
foldably connected to the bottom panel. Each end panel has
substantially parallel side edge portions and a pair of elongate
tabs, each tab being foldably connected closely adjacent a
respective side edge portion of respective end panel. Each tab
carries at least one first fastener and at least one second
fastener is carried on each end panel adjacent the outside edge
portion of the end panel. The fasteners cooperating to connect at
least one first fastener to at least one second fastener to attach
the tabs to respective end panel to define an interior space of the
container. The divider file assembly being located in the interior
space and attachable to the container.
[0010] The divider file assembly includes a plurality of vertically
disposable files, including a first file locatable closely adjacent
one end panel and having spaced elongate edge portions, each edge
portion of the first file including at least one passageway
therethrough and aligned with one respective at least one first and
second fasteners. Each edge portion of the first file is sandwiched
between respective tab and respective end panel for securing the
divider file assembly to the container when the respective
fasteners are secured together. The divider file assembly further
includes a second file locatable closely adjacent another end panel
having spaced elongate edge portions. Each edge portion of the
second file includes at least one passageway therethrough and
aligned with another respective pair of at least one first and
second fasteners. Each edge portion of the second file being
sandwiched between another respective tab and another respective
end panel for securing the divider file assembly to the container
when another respective fasteners are secured together.
[0011] Each file includes a first and second side edge portion and
a pair of first vertically elongated panels each attached to
respective first and second side edge portion of the file and a
pair of second vertically elongated panels each attached between
one first panel of one file and another first panel of another
adjacent file. Alternately, the assembly includes a pair of spaced
accordion members, the file dividers mounted between the accordion
members. The divider file assembly is collapsible to locate each
file substantially flat against an adjacent file. Additionally a
top cover is provided for covering the container which includes a
top panel having four sides and a wall subtending from each side
for defining an interior space sized to house the divider file
therein assembly when the assembly is collapsed.
[0012] In a further aspect of the present invention there is
provided a divided storage system comprising a collapsible
container and a collapsible divided file assembly, the container
including a planar blank having a centrally-located bottom panel
with four side portions, front and rear panels and two side panels
each foldably attached to a respective one side portion of the
bottom panel and movable to a position perpendicular to the bottom
panel, fastener means carried by each panel for attaching the
adjacent side panels together to define an interior space. The file
assembly includes planar front and rear files having opposite edge
portions locatable adjacent to respective front and rear panel,
respective edge portions being removably attachable thereto. The
file assembly includes a plurality of file dividers located between
the front and rear files. A plurality of accordion pleats is
provided for attaching one file divider to an adjacent file divider
and to attach the front and rear files to adjacent the file
dividers. The file assembly includes a first and second pair of
file accordion pleats for attaching respective edge portions of the
front and rear files to respective side panels.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0013] The novel features which are believed to be characteristic
of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended
claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization
and method of operation, together with further objects and
advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the
following description taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates a plan view of the blank and fastener
assembly used to form a collapsible divided storage system in
accord with the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a partial elevation view of the file divider
connectable to the container in accord with the present
invention;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a top view of the cover of the container in accord
with the present invention; and in accord with the present
invention;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a top view of the file divider assembly folded in
an accordion-like manner assembled to form the container in accord
with the invention;
[0018] FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial top view of the connection
apparatus used to attach a connectable file divider of FIG. 2 to
the container in accord with the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the blank and fastener
assembly of FIG. 1; and
[0020] FIG. 7 is a partial top view of the connection of the file
divider assembly of FIG. 4 to the assembled container.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] With respect to the present invention, the blank and
fastener assembly used to form the container in accord with the
present invention is shown in FIG. 1 at numeral 10. The blank 10
includes a single translucent plastic blank 11 formed to define a
bottom panel 12 having interior surface 23, front and rear end
panels 13 and side panels 25. Each front and rear panel 13 has an
outside surface 14, an inside surface 15, upper edge portion 16 and
first and second side edge portions 17, 18 and is separated from
and foldable about bottom panel 12 by score lines 21.
[0022] Score lines 22 provide for the folding of said panels 25
upward with respect to bottom panel 12.
[0023] Each side panel 25 has an upper edge portion 26 and interior
and exterior surfaces 31, 32 and a pair of elongate tabs 28 which
are foldable about score lines 27. A first set of fasteners 29
mounted on tabs 28 cooperate with a second set of fasteners 19.
Fasteners 19, 29 may be snap fasteners, cam locks and any similar
fasteners that can secure file dividers therebetween as will be
discussed hereinbelow. Posts 30 may be integral to either fastener
19 or 29.
[0024] With respect to FIG. 2, an elevation view of the first file
divider of an assembly 33 is shown. Outside elongate tabs 34 have a
pair of vertically spaced fastener holes 39 by which the assembly
33 is attached to the container 50 (FIG. 6). Tabs 34 are attached
at fold line 36 to adjacent elongate panels 35, 37 that are
foldable about fold line 38 in an accordion-like manner. Each file
divider 49 has an upper index tab 41 (FIG. 4) and a lower edge 42
that forms an open bottom with an adjacent, spaced away divider 49.
Items filed will rest on bottom panel inner surface 23. Each file
41 also includes elongate panels 35 and 37 that form an accordion
pleat. Accordion member 20 is made of all the pleats as an integral
member.
[0025] FIG. 3 illustrates the cover 43 used with the assembled
container. Side walls 44 and end walls 45 are integral with top
wall 47. Lip 48 of side walls 44 wraps to respective end wall 45
and are preferably permanently affixed although snap fasteners may
be used if appropriate in the circumstances.
[0026] FIG. 4 illustrates the file divider assembly 33 folded flat
for fitting into the interior space 46 in an inverted cover 43 for
storage and shipping in the minimum amount of space.
[0027] FIG. 5 illustrates a detail of how a tab 34 of the file
divider is attached to the container 50 during assembly. For
purpose of illustration, the connection apparatus is shown
collectively at numeral 24. The front and rear panels 13 and side
walls 25 are connected at four corners as shown but details are
shown at only two corners for ease of illustration.
[0028] Tabs 34 are sandwiched between tabs 28 of side panels 25 and
the front and rear panels 13 with fasteners 19 and 29 with post
members 30 fitting through respective passageways 39.
[0029] An assembled container 50 is shown in FIG. 6 and defines
interior space 51 into which file divider assembly 33 fits.
[0030] FIG. 7 illustrates a more detailed construction of the file
divider assembly 33 is constructed in a manner similar to an
accordion file. An elongate panel 37 is attached to an outside side
edge portion 49A of a file 49. Another elongate panel 35 is
attached to one edge of a panel 37. Preferably, all the pairs of
panels 35 and 37 are constructed as an accordion pleat foldable
along fold lines 38 to form a plurality of accordion pleats to
which each file 41 is attached to construct the assembly 33. It is
to be understood that alternative construction techniques may be
employed to achieve the features of the file assembly.
[0031] The precise dimensions and shape (square (FIG. 1),
rectangular (FIG. 6), etc.) of the files 49, assembly 33 and
container 50 will vary with the specific uses contemplated.
Furthermore, cover 43 is sized to provide an interior space 46
sufficient to carry the collapsed assembly 33 and collapsed and
folded blank 11 for storage and shopping purposes.
[0032] While the invention has been described with respect to
certain specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that many
modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art
without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended
therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications
and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the
invention.
* * * * *